Chapter 419 - Brave Love Song
(1)
"Toya-san, it's morning. Please wake up."
"Good morning, Airi."
"Good morning."
After exchanging morning greetings with Airi, Airi leaves the bed and heads to the kitchen.
After changing, I get ready and go to the dining room.
I eat breakfast with Airi.
While Airi is cleaning up, I talk with Airi.
There are many holidays this week.
Even within the company, there are those who take paid leave on Friday to enjoy a four-day weekend.
Well, there's no one other than Shimoda-senpai, though.
By the way, apparently he got scolded by the President because he tried to take a nine-day weekend.
If it were a time when work was settled, that would be one thing.
Even though it's the off-season, it's the end of the month.
Regular duties such as regular audits are packed.
Even without that, Shimoda-senpai makes many mistakes, gets into arguments with clients, forgets regular audits, and causes other troubles.
The burden of all that falls on the other employees.
Even if you weren't the President, you'd get angry.
"He is a troublesome person, isn't he? That Shimoda-senpai person."
Airi says.
"Sorry, dumping even my work complaints on you, Airi."
"It is fine. Toya-san listens to my frustrations too, after all."
"Eh?"
"No matter how late work is, if I say I want you to pay attention to me, you pay attention to me, don't you?"
I see.
Ah, speaking of work being late reminded me.
"Airi, I don't need dinner today."
"Is it a drinking party?"
"Yeah, Natsumi-san is going on maternity leave, so we're all going to drink."
"I understand. Tomorrow is a day off, so please take your time and enjoy yourself."
"Thank you."
Once Airi's cleaning up is finished, I relax in the living room and then head to work.
"Well, I'm off."
"Yes. Please take care and have a safe trip."
Sent off by Airi, I go to the company.
Arriving at the company, I greet everyone and prepare for work. I look at today's schedule.
Today is a different pattern than usual. I'll be out all day.
After finishing the morning assembly, I immediately leave the office.
I aim for about 2 to 3 hours per visit. Including travel time, it's about enough to go to one in the morning and two in the afternoon.
I proceed with the work while engaging in small talk, and offer advice if there are any points of concern.
After finishing the second visit in the afternoon and returning to the office, it was just the right time.
While I am processing the remaining work in the remaining time, the President calls everyone.
"As of today, Uehara-san is entering prenatal leave. Tatsuhiko-kun, give a greeting."
"I will give a greeting on behalf of my wife. After maternity leave, she plans to go straight into childcare leave. We will cause trouble for everyone, but..."
Apparently she will return to work once things settle down.
However, even during that time, Kamiki-san is working quietly alone.
And when the closing chime rings, she stands up from her seat.
Everyone is taken aback.
After changing and leaving the locker room, she tries to leave, leaving behind a single word: "Thank you for your hard work."
"Wait! I was thinking we could all go for a meal after this..."
"I do not do overtime."
Saying so, Kamiki-san left.
"What is with that woman!"
Shimoda-senpai says at the drinking party.
"President, please say something to her too! She's doing whatever she wants, isn't she? Kamiki-san."
Complaints also fly from the female employees.
"Well, she does her work perfectly, after all."
The President laughs and glosses over it.
"That aside, Tatsuhiko-senpai. Is the child to be born a boy?"
I tried changing the subject.
"Oh! He'll definitely be handsome, resembling me!"
When Tatsuhiko-senpai says that, a female employee replies, "It would be good if he resembled Natsumi-san."
"Have you decided on a name or something?"
I ask.
"No, we're about to think about it together from now on."
"Tatsuhiko, be careful. A husband's actions during pregnancy can change his life, you know."
When Koriyama-senpai says that, the female employees also say, "That's right! Cheating is the absolute worst, after all!"
"I wouldn't do something like that. We're passionately in love!"
Tatsuhiko-senpai says so and clings to Natsumi-san.
Is it just my imagination that Natsumi-san looks like she dislikes it?
When the first party ends, considering Natsumi-san's physical condition, we disperse.
I go home by a driving service.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back. Thank you for your hard work."
Airi welcomed me.
"First, please take a bath."
Since Airi says so, I take a bath.
When I get out of the bath, there is a good smell.
"I could only prepare something simple, but apparently it is good for finishing up."
Placed on the table was clam soup.
I gratefully receive it.
When Airi finishes washing the dishes, we go to the bedroom together.
While watching TV, I tried talking to Airi about Kamiki-san.
"She is an amazing person, isn't she?"
"Do you think that kind of thing is acceptable, Airi?"
"Perhaps she thinks it doesn't matter because she is a temporary employee. She is doing her work properly, isn't she?"
"Well, yeah."
"If there was a mistake in the work, or if there was a problem like having to finish it within today, you should warn her, but if there isn't, I think it's fine, but..."
I listened to Airi's talk.
Certainly, she does her work perfectly. However, she must know that she'll buy resentment, so I don't understand the meaning of doing it prepared for that.
"Perhaps she is a person who can switch her work on and off properly. I think lingering and doing overtime is more of a problem, though."
"...Certainly."
It seems like Shimoda-senpai is intentionally adding even 30 minutes of overtime.
At that time, I noticed Airi was giggling.
"What's wrong?"
"No, I just thought that Toya-san is also worrying about various things after all..."
Ah, did I do it again?
"Sorry, I complained again, didn't I?"
"Toya-san's complaints are more like consultations than complaints, so they are easy to listen to."
"Don't you have any frustrations, Airi?"
"Frustrations?"
Airi asks back.
When I nod, Airi laughs and answers.
"There is a good story. Today was a special sale day for eggs and they were cheap, but they were calculated at the regular price. When I pointed that out, they made a really unpleasant face..."
"...Is that all?"
"If you get that kind of cashier, if it continues every day, it's no laughing matter."
"I see."
"Also, when I was talking with Kana and the others at Blue Bird..."
It seems like it's going to be long.
"Is it okay if we continue in bed?"
"I am sorry when you are tired."
"No, because I want to take my time and listen to it. Airi's complaints."
"...Thank you very much."
While listening to Airi's complaints, or rather, small stories, I spent the night.
(2)
"Ayato. Wake up soon."
Haruka shakes my body.
"Huh? Aren't you going back to your parents' house today?"
"What are you saying? You're going out with Ayato's older sisters today, aren't you?"
That was right.
I look at the clock. I hurriedly prepare.
It seems Haruka had already finished preparing.
Around the time I finish preparing, my smartphone rings.
It's from my older sister.
"I just arrived."
I immediately leave the room with Haruka.
Down below, a silver SUV is parked.
It's the car of my older sister's boyfriend, Kuribayashi-san.
We got into Kuribayashi-san's car.
"Going to Bungotakada is fine, right?"
"Yes, I couldn't think of anywhere else to go."
"It's fine, we haven't gone on a long trip that far either."
Saying so, Kuribayashi-san started the car.
I was interested in my older sister's boyfriend, Kuribayashi-san.
Why my older sister?
Even looking through the colored glasses of a younger brother, there is no woman as lacking in sex appeal as her.
I am interested in how my older sister, who was late to romance or rather seemed to find it troublesome, came to confess.
I was planning to observe that this time.
Haruka and I were in the back seat. We were watching the movements of the two from behind.
However, without caring about that, Kuribayashi-san tosses topics to us.
Like "How is university life?" or "What do you two usually do?"
Conversely, I also tried asking Kuribayashi-san.
Like "How is living together?" or "Since you went out of your way to greet her parents, are you thinking about what lies ahead?" (T/N: possible typo in source — original reads "挨拶したったことは" which likely means "挨拶したってことは" [the fact that you greeted them]).
"That's right, well, graduating and getting a job is the primary goal, though."
Kuribayashi-san laughed and answered.
I am observing the two of them after that.
And Haruka and my older sister look at unusual things together and look at them curiously.
Kuribayashi-san is watching over such an older sister.
I took the plunge and tried asking.
"What part of my older sister did you fall in love with?"
Kuribayashi-san thought for a bit, but answered after a while.
"Her unfriendliness, I guess?"
It was a strange answer.
"It was the first time I met a woman so unfriendly. But when I went to Blue Bird, I saw her business smile. That was the final blow."
My older sister, who lacks friendliness, smiled.
With such a simple thing, I finally realize what the essential thing is.
Even though he is challenging her with honest affection, my older sister brings up dark topics.
My older sister always has an ambiguous reaction.
The times when my friendliness is about to run out are when you are extremely cute.
So, just as you wish, let's love like a brave warrior.
Strangely, almost creepily, people fall in love.
Does that mean Kuribayashi-san was like that too?
"Ayato! Come here. There's something interesting."
Haruka is calling.
"Yeah, I'm coming now."
I buy souvenirs with my older sister and the others, sightsee, and return.
My older sister and the others are talking naturally.
We ate dinner at a family restaurant.
My older sister's picky eating was the same as always.
Love is, so to speak, a seesaw game of ego and ego.
My older sister's reaction is always an ambiguous reaction. (T/N: possible typo in source — original reads "反応ないつだって" which likely means "反応はいつだって" [reaction is always]).
But, no matter what others say, she must have seemed very lovely to Kuribayashi-san.
After finishing the meal, my older sister and the others go home.
"I have class tomorrow too."
Kuribayashi-san says.
"Please take care of my older sister from now on as well."
I said to Kuribayashi-san.
"I understand. Leave it to me."
"Well, Ayato. See you."
And so the two of them went home.
"Isn't he a good boyfriend?"
Haruka says.
"Yeah, I'm relieved."
"Well then, shall we go inside the house?"
When Haruka says so, we entered the house.
A game of life that repeats mistakes.
Surely Kuribayashi-san and the others were also fascinated by the mystery of love and wandered into the labyrinth of love.
Because waiting for my turn is painful, I hum a brave love song.
(3)
"Naru, and Hitomi too, welcome."
"Good evening, Saki-san."
"Good evening."
Saki-san was waiting at the entrance of the shop.
Today is the first women's gathering of the Watanabe group in a long time.
A dinner party at a stylish shop.
At my table, there were Hitomi, Tosaka-san, Kanna-san, Ai-san, and Mika-san.
Once everyone takes their seats, they order drinks.
And everyone's status reports begin.
And when everyone gathers and drinks are distributed, Saki-san says.
"Let's have fun with just women today."
And the beginning of the banquet.
A big difference compared to the previous women's gatherings.
That is that complaints about husbands have decreased.
In particular, Ai-san and Kanna-san have none at all.
On the contrary, they seem to be worried.
It seems Kanna-san doesn't know how to call out to him when he comes home after losing a match.
Since she doesn't understand soccer, it can't be helped.
The local team is currently in J1.
The TV said their rank is about in the middle.
Even so, when they lose, there are boos from the supporters.
"Do you have any motivation!" they say.
Since they are keeping about the middle in J1, I think they are doing well, though.
Apparently Ai-san is also having a hard time.
It seems Kiritani-san, who used to play around that much, has stopped playing around as if it were a lie.
It is said that he is mentally ill.
Apparently he cannot survive unless he earns his quota, even if he has to do Devil-like business practices such as forcing health foods and supplements on the elderly.
If you keep doing that kind of thing, your conscience will also fade.
Sales of selling eye drops that are placed at one-third the price at drugstores.
Even so, when he cannot achieve his quota, apparently he pays out of his own pocket.
Because those supplements are also sold by mail order claiming to be cheap in TV commercials, apparently he sells them desperately.
If you spend every day holding a heavy bag, desperately holding on when rejected at the intercom, and being yelled at by your boss if sales are bad, your energy to play around will also be lost.
Mika-san also thought it would be easy because she is a civil servant, but apparently it is different.
Citizens who come barging in yelling almost every day.
People who make unreasonable complaints.
Even if guided to work, people who lie saying "I cannot work due to illness."
Even if told to bring a medical certificate, they say they have no money to have a medical certificate written.
If she rejects the application because it is clearly fraudulent receipt, human rights groups will crowd around.
Even so, it is said that he does not forget words of appreciation for Mika-san who works until late.
Working is a hard thing, isn't it?
Even in my naivety, I thought so.
Even so, if you don't work, you can't make a living.
Ai-san also says her overtime is amazing even though she is on a three-shift system.
A life where going from night shift to day shift is a matter of course.
Even so, she seems to be anxious about Kiritani-san's condition.
Kanna-san says that the situation of the workplace, which looks glamorous, is also hard. (T/N: possible typo in source — original reads "職BA" which likely means "職場" [workplace]).
Claimants come almost every day.
You must always have a smile.
Standing all the time.
In the end, is Katagiri-san the winner?
Tosaka-san says that is not the case either.
Recently, complaints about work have begun to increase.
An occupation where not even a 1-yen calculation error is allowed.
It seems pointing out mistakes to clients also uses up one's nerves.
As expected, there is probably no easy job.
"That is exactly why when we enjoy ourselves like this, we enjoy ourselves,"
Mika-san says.
"I overlook a little bit of my husband's badness,"
Ai-san says.
"We have to let them stretch their wings a little, right?"
Kanna-san said so and laughed.
Ah, I remembered.
"Come to think of it, they said Kosei and the others are also gathering today."
Smiles disappear from everyone's faces.
"Do you know what shop that is?"
Mika-san says.
"I've heard, but..."
"Ah, there's no need to ask. Because I've heard from Makoto,"
Kanna-san says.
"I've also heard from Toya-san,"
Tosaka-san says.
Everyone has already reported.
"Then, shall we go pick them up?"
Around the time the last order came, Ai-san said.
We all headed to that shop.
(4)
"Now, please vent your daily frustrations."
When Nishimatsu-kun says so, the banquet begins.
At my table, there are Watanabe-kun, Makoto, Kiritani-kun, Nakajima-kun, and Kimoto-senpai.
Everyone seems tired.
Most of it was complaints about work rather than complaints about wives.
"Well, let's forget about work today and drink."
Watanabe-kun says.
But when everyone gets drunk, they naturally become talkative.
Even so, no one talks about their own wife.
Though those around us were not like that.
The highly exciting first party.
We just drink and eat single-mindedly.
"Has everyone been keeping company with your wives recently?"
Makoto said.
Everyone shakes their heads.
"I'm too tired for that," even Kiritani-kun goes so far as to say.
"That's why I told you to stop route sales," Kimoto-senpai says.
"I've started to not know if I can call this work. I wonder if it's complicity in fraud..."
That much of a black job, huh...
It's better to change the subject.
"Watanabe-kun, have you been making babies since then?"
I tried asking Watanabe-kun.
But Watanabe-kun shakes his head.
"It's not even close, I don't have that kind of leeway. They said civil servants don't have overtime, but that's a rumor."
Watanabe-kun says.
"The things written on my job offer sheet were also nonsense. There is no holiday work, but early arrival and overtime are matters of course. Moreover, because it's fixed overtime pay, if you go home at the scheduled time, you get scolded, you know."
Kiritani-kun says.
"We can get overtime pay, but it's the same as Watanabe-kun, a life like going to work on Monday and returning home on Saturday. Even so, I have to keep company with Kana. There is no such thing as my own time."
Kimoto-senpai says.
For me too, when it comes to the end of the month, overtime increases after all. Keeping company with Airi isn't painful, though.
"How about you, Makoto?"
I tried asking Makoto.
"There is no overtime, but the pressure of not being able to lose is amazing. Supporters only judge by winning or losing, so 'it's fine because we're staying within the safety zone' doesn't matter."
Even so, he says he can't let Kanna worry. Kanna is also working desperately every day, so he says he has to support her.
Everyone is desperate, aren't they?
It seems Nakajima-kun is also the same as always.
Handling complaints and troubles that occur when stopping the water supply of residents who do not pay water bills.
He says he just faithfully performs his duty like a machine.
Nakajima-kun and Kiritani-kun are not just about work. Their wives are nurses.
It's a matter of course, but they have to do the housework.
We look at everyone making a fuss at other tables and think.
We also had that kind of era, as if reminiscing about the distant past.
But being able to continue this act of gathering and drinking together like this might also be a miracle.
Everyone cherishes that time.
Because they cherish it, they can continue.
There is no pleasure other than doing this.
"It's almost time for the last order."
The clerk says.
They say they will take orders.
They say we will merge with the women's group for the second party.
I miss the days when we were making a fool of ourselves all night long.
The era when I was caught up in Makoto and Kiritani-kun's foolishness seems like a lie.
Before we knew it, everyone had been swallowed up by this town.
We are making a fuss with a few familiar friends.
In this world that cannot stop, we have no choice but to live with our chests puffed out.
I don't want to say "If I were reborn" with my eyes shining.
I want to return, I don't want to return to those silly days.
When we left the shop, the women's group was waiting.
We parted ways with the high school friends here.
We go to the second party.
Everyone is drinking, singing, and making a fuss.
I keep eating.
Airi says nothing.
And the night breaks.
The time for the end of the banquet comes.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Everyone leaves behind those words. They return to the place they should return to.
Once the week begins, the second semester will also start for the university group.
I return home while being shaken by the first bus.
When I return home, I take a shower and watch TV.
When Airi returns from the shower, she begins to dry her hair.
"How was the men's gathering?"
"Everyone was quiet."
"Is that so?"
"How was the women's gathering?"
"Everyone was anxious about their respective husband's well-being."
"I see."
When Airi finishes drying her hair, she sits next to me.
I hold such an Airi's shoulder.
Airi happily clings to me.
"Shall we rest a little?"
"Yes."
We get into bed.
And so we rest even a little.
Fascinated by the mystery of love, wandering into the labyrinth of love.
Everyone in the world is a deeply karmic living being.
A game of life that repeats mistakes.
Even though we are challenging with honest affection, the world is dark topics.
Love is, so to speak, a seesaw game of ego and ego.
The opinions of those around us don't matter.
Bargaining doesn't matter, we are pushing our selfishness onto each other.
If so, just watching for an opportunity is no good.
Let's move into action more and more.
That is a brave love song.